Pneumatic support for vehicles.



c. J. szrovan: PNEUMATIC SUBPORT FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN,22, 1912.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

in use.

at all Supports for Vehicles,

CHARLES J. STOYEL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PNEUMATIC SUPPORT FOR VEHICLES.

menace.

Specification of Letters atent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

Application filed January 22, 1912. sirmrno. 672,617.

To allwkom it may concern: v

Be it known that L-CHARLES J. Srovnn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and'county vof San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic of whichthe following is a specification.

The hereinafter described invention relates to an improved air cushioning device adapted for use on all of the lighter types of vehicles, where easyriding is desired, but is particularly designed for. use on automobiles, and the principal object of my invention is to provide a device, the use ofwhich will supplant 'the pneumatic tires now in I use and absorb and eliminate all road shocks before the same are transmitted to the vehicle b dy, and by doing so, dispense with the costly pneumatic tire now universally outer casing and the inner tube seated there- Another object is to-vprovide an air cush-' ioning' device interposed between the vehicle axle and the springs-which support the body. of the vehicle, thus providing a pneumatic seat for the vehicle springs which will eliminate all-shocks, jars and jolts transmitted thereto before the same causea vibration of the vehicle springs. v

A further object is to provide a simple, easily constriu-ted, inexpensive device ot'but v few parts, which-will perform all the tuneand downward tions of absorbing shocks as are nou' performed by the costly pneumatic tire and thus dispense with the equipping of automobiles. with pneumatic tires.

The improved device comprises an open topped receptacle formed in or supported li the vehicle axleat a point directly below each vehicle spring, and inwhich is adapted to' be seated an inflatable pneumatic tube,

which supports a i'iiovab-le.plate, the plate providing a seat lor the vehicle spring, the rcceptacle'being provided with a detachable cover whiclr iucloses the pneumatic tube within the receptacle and limits the upward movement oi?" said movable date. -1

W ith the above mentioned and other -ohi the invention consists in the and coi'ul' inalion of parts illustrated in "the :i,ccoinp:inyiiig drawhiggghnd 'pointed out in the claims. hereto appended; it. being understood that various cl'ianges" in the preferably oval, in shape and tracted opening 4 atthe top thereof, around form, proportion, size and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

To comprehend the invention reference should be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings illustrating a completely con structed devicetor carrying out the invention, wherein,

Figure 1 a front elevation of my improved device, there being one cushioning device under each spring, with the front of one of the receptacles broken away disclosing the outer casing and inner tube therein,

,the movable plate, the stationary or cover plates-for the top of the receptacle, and the manner of securing the outer casing, to the movable plate. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of my improved device, with the cover of one bf the receptacles removed, disclosing the in, and the other receptacle with the cover applied. Fig.- 3 is a horizontal sectional view of one of the receptacles witlrfthev-oiiter casing broken away, disclosing the inner tube, the movable plateltlie arm projecting. upwardly therefrom forsupporting they ehicle spring, the cover plates, andthe/valve stein tor inll ating the inner tube." Fig. tis a top pla j plow. of one-of the receptacles with the, cover plates and the movable plate removed, disclosing a modified form of inner tubes, each provided with a separate in.- llating valve.

te'l'erring' more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a suitable vehicleaxlc adapted to carry vat its ends suitable vehicle wheels, and provided within its length, at points where *the vehiclesprings are normally supported, with downwardly bent s ats or recesses 2; having side and end walls, the whole forming agreceptacle. 'lhe receptacles 2 extend trailsversi-rly ol the axle l and a re preferably pro-.

vided with straight sides and rounded end walls, and the construction 0 each receptacle and the parts (ISSOCIfLlQKl herewith be ing the same, a description of orle is thought will sullicc.

Positioned within the receptacle 2 and adapted to extend longitudinally thereof is a flexible rubber outer casing or cover 3,

having a conlhe edge. of which is provided an outwardly extending clencher bead 5, of the type generally used on outer casings of.pne'hmat-ic tires, the outer casing 3 providing a housing for a substantially oval inner tube or air containing chamber 6 which is provided on its upper surface adjacent one end thereof with an inflating valve 6.

Mounted to reciprocate in the receptacle above the outer casing 3-and inner tube 6 is a plate 7, having a flat under face 7 which is provided with an annular inwardly projecting flange 8 which is adapted to receive the annular bead 5 on the upper edge of the outer'casing l, thus rovidinga closure for the outer casing, to e applied after the in ner tube 6 has been inserted therein. Projecting a short distance from the center of the upper surface of the movable plate 7 is an integral member or shank 9, provided at its upper end with oppositely extending alined arms lO'and 11, on which the vehicle spring is adapted to rest. The outer ends of the arms are formed with downwardly extending lips 19 and 13, which with the shank S) provide seats for U-shapcd bolts 14 and 15, positioned one on each, side of the shank 9, the bolts encircling the arms and the spring, and clamp the two together. The plate 7 is confined in the receptacle by a detachable cover, formed of two plates 16 and 17, each of which is of a configuration equal to one-half of the open top of the receptacle 2, which plates are provided attheir nieetiug edges with oppositely extending longitudinal cut out portions or slots 18 and 19, which providean'opcning through which the shank 9 extends. The plates are detachably secured to the top oi the recep tuclc by bolts 20 which project through bolt openings 21 in the periphery oi the cover plates and which are alined with corre-. sponding bolt 0 cnings 22 in the upper edge of the receptac e 2. The movable plate 7 and the cover ,plates 16 are provided respectively with circular alined openings 23 and through which the valve stem 6' pro-' 'ects.

The parts being assembled as in the drawings, and air having been forced in through the inflating valve 6, until the required re is attained in the inner tube 6, this ssure occi-ally being the same per cubic incl us is generally required in a pneumatic lire for supporting the same vehicle, it will be readily seen that when the vehicle is traveling over rough roads, the jars caused the unevenness of the road will be when p or absorbed by the inflated cushion, it being" intcrposml iltlWULll the axle and the iiim'zibl'c plate I, and before the shocks are transmitted to the vehicle spring. The air cushions perform the some function as the pneumatic tire, without the cost of maintenance that is required by the use of tires.

,It is to be understood that my improved device does not perform the function of the body jacked up withdrawi'n the plunger to D which is'secured the outer casing carrying the inner tube, the casing and tube are now exposed either for inspection or replacement as may be desired; Y

Fig. 4 discloses a 'modified -form of=-air cushion consisting-- 'oetwo circular rin shaped inner tubes 25 'a'dapted "to bejpositioned side by 's'ide inthe' outercasing 26,

and each provided with a separate-inflating valve 27,; this construction is such that if one tube punctures, the movable plate will be partly supported by the other until the defective tube can be replace Having thus fully described my invention what is claimed as new and is desired to be protected by Letters, Patcntise 1. In a pneumatic support for vehicles,

in combinatiou'with a v'chiclel axle und a vehiclebody; of receptacle formed in said vehicle axle, an inflatable tube locatcd in said receptacle, anouter'casing for said tube, said" casing being provided with an opcni through which said tube is inserted, and a plunger mounied to reciprocate in said rece tacle, said plunger being connected to and closing the opening 111 said outer casing and interposed between-the vehicle bodyaml'said'ca'sing. F

2. In a pneumatic support 'for vehicles, in combination with n vehicle axle/and a. vehicle body, of a receptacle formed insaid vehicle axle, an inflatable pneumatic tube located in said receptacle, an outer casing surrmlndlng said tube and provided with an opening through which said tube is inserted, a clencherlbead on the upper peripl1- cral edge of said opening, a plunger interposed between the vehicle body and'said outer casing and "provided on its under surface with a "flange adapted to receive the clcncherfbelul on said casing, close the opening [herein and unite the'two together, and a cover plate for suid'receptacle.

3. In a pneumatic support for vehicles, in combinatimi with a vehicle axle and a vehicle spring, of a receptacle formed in said vehicle axle, an inflatable pneumatic tobc located in said rece tacle, an outer casing surrounding said in ;e and provided witlran opening through which said tube is inserted, an outwarijlly roje'cting clencher bead on the upper perlp ierul edge of said opening, a plunger provided on its under face with an inwardly projecting flange ada )ted to engage the clencher bead on said out 1' casing, close the opening therein and unite the two together, a shank extending upwardly from said plunger and provided at its top with oppositely extended arms which provide a seat for said spring, and a cover plate for said recepiacle, said cover plate being provided with an opening 10 through which said shank extends.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two snbscriblng Witnesses.

, CHARLES J. STOVEL.

\Vitnesses HARRY H. TOTTEN, D. B. RICHARDS. 

